Project Description

Schönberg Jazz Berio

Konstantia Gourzi released a CD that offers a new perspective to Schönberg’s “Pierrot lunaire”, and combines it with her own improvisations.

The Project

With this project, she realised a longtime idea: improvising on Arnold Schönberg. Wishing to experience the music and dramaturgy of the music, she started to improvise on the themes of “Pierrot lunaire”, in order to create “breathing spaces” between the individual parts. Together with Maria Baptist she developed a new perspective on Schönberg’s work by combining the classical parts with improvisations.

Luciano Berio’s “Folk Songs” represent a musical contrast and a balance to Schönberg’s music. Also this juxtaposition enables a new perspective on Schönberg’s “musical fairytale”. This is the reason for performing the two compositions together and without a break.

Performances

World premiere: 5 May 2006 in Patras, Greece, as part of the events for Patras European Capital of Culture 2006
Soloist: Anna Clementi

1 May 2006, Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich
Soloist: Salome Kammer

15 November 2015, Staatstheater Kassel, as part of Kasseler Musiktage
Soloist: Claudia Barainsky

CD

NEOS released the CD in 2007, in cooperation with Bayerischer Rundfunk. The ensemble opus21musikplus performs under the conduct of Konstantia Gourzi, together with Maria Baptist, jazz piano and Stella Doufexis, singer.